Bangor police investigating bogus $50, $20 bills

BANGOR, Maine — Bangor police are investigating reports that counterfeit $50 and $20 bills were passed off in the city over the weekend.

City police received five complaints Sunday regarding counterfeit bills, four of which came from residents who received them in exchange for items sold at yard sales, Sgt. Paul Edwards said Monday.

The fifth complaint was from a local man who received a fake $50 bill from another man who approached him downtown asking to make change, he said. The victim did not realize the $50 he was given was counterfeit until after the exchange.

Edwards said the five cases appear to be related. He said some of the victims of the scam told police that they received counterfeit bills from two white men who appeared to be in their early to mid-20s, clean-shaven with short military-style haircuts.

One victim thought one of the men involved may have driven away in a dark-colored SUV, Edwards said. One of the men also reportedly had tattoos on his forearm of an anchor and a compass.

Edwards said that as of late Monday afternoon, it appeared that the counterfeit bill complaints were limited to Bangor. He said an inquiry sent to other law enforcement agencies in Penobscot County yielded no other reports.

Anyone with information about the identity of either of the men is urged to call Officer Dennis Townsend, who is investigating the matter, at the Bangor Police Department at 947-7382. Those who prefer to remain anonymous should press 6 to access the department’s tip line.